How do you become a nanny? Could I do it?

[themachinewillstop]

I'm at a bit if a loss and looking at my future.

Until recently I worked in care of the elderly. I've also done cleaning. I loved both jobs but have had to leave due to medical limitations. I have developed a condition which means I cannot lift over 3kgs regularly and over 5kg never again. I also shouldn't be on my feet constantly, although I can be on my feet some of the time.

I feel much more suited to 'practical' and 'service' type jobs. I have neither the time or money to retrain really.

I've been thinking over what the hell can I do now? I need to do something to pay the bills.

I had a brainwave the other day - what about a nanny? I have two children who are 17 and 13 now. I'm quite good with children (I think).
As long as I don't have to lift them, so say age 3-11.

Am I crazy?

Your options would be quite limited, I should imagine. Most people are looking for nannies for younger children; and even many 3- and 4-year-olds are likely to need a bit of picking up now and then (tantrums, helping on and off things etc.)

If you have elderly care experience, what about something in that field but more administrative? A housing support worker or sheltered scheme officer with a housing association or council? Much more focussed around things like welfare checks, coordinating activities, support with e.g. reading letters, sorting out bills and benefits, being a friendly face, liaising with their care workers and medical staff and family to promote good outcomes etc.

This is an old job description for an association I used to work for. Gives an idea of the general sort of duties and responsibilities. http://hornseyht.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Support-Services-Officer-JD-2014.pdf

How about an after school nanny for primary age children? Or a nanny housekeeper with light duties. It’s so hard to find people for those roles where I am and the hourly rate therefore probably higher.

I do babysitting and kids up to the age of 7 or 8 need lifting sometimes - if they don’t want to get into bed, if they’re upset, on or off the toilet, up to the kitchen sink……….

Being a nanny pretty much comes with lifting kids and being on your feet as standard. Most people looking for a FT nanny would also want someone with childcare training.

You would still need to pick up my 3 year old regularly. I think if you can’t lift a child it’s not the job for you.

We hired an older lady as an after school nanny for primary age kids - she worked for us for years & it was v successful. no lifting of kids but she did have to walk a lot for school pickups. and it was only a part-time job.

@ComtesseDeSpair Thank you so much for this. Sounds very interesting to look into.
I suppose I really lack confidence and struggle with 'people skills' though, and 'could I do that?' / imposter syndrome mentality. I found care easier because although it is emotional, it is practical iyswim? I loved cleaning because you can just put earphones in and work.

Now I have limitations physically, I am really struggling to work out what I can do.

As far as qualifications, I have Health and Social Care and Administration Qualifications, although these are not at very high level (A level equivalent I think).

I find nannying quite physical. You might still need to lift an older child; stuck on a climbing frame, injured or having a tantrum are just some of the things that may occur!

also, call centre work is dull but you could do a few shifts to pay the bills. some let you work from home.

Nannying isn’t going to work if you if you can’t lift and be on your feet all the time, most work is for 0-3 to 5.

TA for older primary kids? Only term time though… could you look at admin work?

Could you set up an out of school club? Depending on what/where, you don't have to have qualifications except first aid and safeguarding, which doesn't sound like you'd struggle with.

@Notoironing and @parietal That is what I was thinking. Along the lines of collecting from school, giving dinner, light household stuff, supervising homework.

@Hmmmbetterchangethis @AlligatorPsychopath @Overthebow Thanks. Yes I had thought that I would be very limited with ages. Recently went to Starbucks with my sister and nieces and 3 year old niece did need helped / semi lifted a little. It's hard to remember what mine were like! Both taller than me now!

Actually OP, there is this agency - they might have more sedate than average jobs

https://grandnanny.co.uk

If you can walk to and from schools then before and after school care for primary age children may be a good option. You could give them breakfast and tea.

As long as you could pick them up in a proper emergency.

@Stichintime Thank you for the perspective. Yes, these lifting/physical limitations are really affecting what kind of work I can do, sadly.

@continentallentil Love your name! Regards Admin work I am qualified in that now, because I recently did a 2 year college course, when I first realised that lifting / physical work may be a problem for me long term. I am concerned for the future though with admin type work - I'm 35, my retirement age is 69, surely A.I will be taking admin jobs?
We don't have T.A where I live, as far as I know. We have T.A for SEN, but I don't think I'm up to the challenges of that, much as I wish I was.

@daffodilandtulip That is a good idea thank you. I don't think I could though, because I don't have money for premises etc. I could maybe work in one part time though, so that is an idea.

@continentallentil Thanks, I will have a look. Yeah, I'm 35 with the body of someone double my age!

@Overthebow Yeah I can walk fine, for around 2/3 hours a day. I could lift as a 'normal' person in an absolute emergency, it's just that I am having surgery which you cannot lift more than 5kg after and the least lifting the better as the surgery could fail with lifting.

the job description for our after school nanny:

hours 2-6.30 or 6 on a friday

arrive at home, do some food prep and plan some activities before walking (10mins) to pick kids up and bring home.
at home give them a snack, and supervise some homework / music practice / fun activity.
then they can chill out while nanny prepares a meal for the whole family (so parents can reheat after work)
give kids dinner and tidy up (get them to help)
get them showered and in pjs
hometime

sometimes there are activities to drive them to and from (5 mins away)

can’t get anyone to apply!

@ComtesseDeSpair I had a look at the link you posted, thanks. Could you tell me, what kind of qualifications would be needed for those types of roles? thank you.

Similar to what @ComtesseDeSpair said, when people get PIP they often advertise for a PA. This often just means things like taking them on outings and doing life admin.

@Notoironing Yes I could do that. Maybe an option, even as part time.

You could do after school nanny for primary kids but I'm a bit confused how you would plan on doing that job if you can't be on your feet and like jobs like cleaning because you can listen to music? Children are very demanding and I'd want to feel the nanny was able to give them her full attention even if no lifting. I mean given that as a PP said you can't hire a nanny for love not money you might as well post a profile on childcare.co.uk and see what you get!

Any sort of childcare is physical - you can’t be a childminder because ofsted need to know you’d be able to pick up kids in an emergency. It’s not that easy to just start running an after school club - there has to be demand, advertising you need someone to run it with you - you need to actually entertain the kids! That’s physical! Oh and you’ll need a risk assessment and not being able to pick up a child in an emergency situation would not be safe enough. What about paediatric first aid - would you be physically strong enough to do repeated chest compressions on a child? Or lift a child over you to try and dislodge food if they are choking? I doubt it from what you’re saying.
And Nanny’s tend to be for babies, pre-school and primary age sibling groups - you will need to be able to pick them up. Plus people pay premiums for a nanny they want experience and qualifications.

I’m sure you’ll find your thing but childcare is tiring and physical and you need to be physically fit and love what you do to make it.

It will vary across organisations and having or working towards some level of H&SC qualification will definitely help, along with some former experience of working with people with dementia and care needs. From what I know of my former colleagues, a huge (and the most important) element of it is about your capacity to be a good advocate for your residents and somebody they can rely on to do what they can’t and be consistent. It’s usually a very varied sort of role, but at its heart it’s about relationship building, being proactive, and supporting elderly people to live the life they want.

It can be tough, and you often have to push back and be firm if eg a care service or occupational therapy is fobbing you off, or a resident is reluctant to engage. But I think you’re vastly underestimating your people skills, your organisational skills, your negotiating skills and your advocacy skills if you’ve worked in care! You’ll have done all of them for your service users all the time - you maybe just don’t recognise them as that.